Device for locating sunken vessels



Dec. 29, 1931. ROETH 1,839,001

DEVICE FOR LOCATING SUNKEN VESSELS Filed June 25, I 1951 5 are more. particularly set forth.

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 tssaem LUDWIG irnon'rir, or UNION CITY, new JERSEY mvrcn non LocA'rme SUNKEN'VESSELS Application file'd'June 25, 1931. Serial No. 546,720.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a ship locater. I The invention has for an object the construction of a ship locater'which isrcharacterized by the abilityof giving the'exact location of a sunken vessel to aid in its salvage.

As a still further objectof this invention it is proposed to particularly provide abuoy in the fore and another'in the'aft part of the ship, which during the normal operation of the ship will be' locateduponthe top'de'ck and connected with extendable cables in a manner so that in the event of the ship sinking the buoys will-float'and thus locate it.-;

i As a still further object of this invention it is proposed to provide a drum for the storing of the cable to be-located in the bottomof the ship,- a pipe ext'endingfromthe, bottom of theship to the upperdeckthroughwhich the cable extends where it is attachedupon the bottom'of the buoy. V

f Furthermore, another one of the objects of this invention is to arrangea funnel portion at the top of the pipe so thatthe buoys may rest thereon and shield the cable of the lower portions from possible damage due to water during'the normal operation of the ship.) A still further object of this invention consists in the provision ofmeans for allowing extension of the cables whi'chsupport the buoys in a restricted. way, so thatthe buoys float directly over the ship instead of assuming positions to the side. It should berecOg nized thatif the cables are extended too far the buoys can float to erroneous positions.

A still further object of this invention is the construction of a deviceof the class mentioned which is ofsimple, durable construction, dependable in use and efficient in action, and which can be manufacture d'and sold at a resonable cost. 7 i

For further comprehension of. the invention, {and of the objects and. advantages thereof, reference will be had to thef-fot lowing description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure 2- i Fig. 1 is an illustration of a ship provided with buoys at the fore and aft constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 shows the .ship in Fig. 1 in a sunken condition with the buoys indicating its sunken position. V

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a portion of the ship showing inde- 6 tail the construction and control mechanism 1 of one of the buoys. Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig-('5. is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 ofFig. 3, shown with the addition of-schematic wiring. FFig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view, of Fig. 7' is .a fragmentary sectional View showing a modified form of conical member to support the buoy.

- In Fig. 1, a ship 10 has been illustrated which is provided with a buoy 11 at its fore and a second buoy 12 at'its aft." In Fig.2 the ship' 10 is shown sunken below the surface of thewater and thefbuoys 11 and 12 on the surface indicating the location of the ship.

It should be noted that the cables13 which extend from the buoys to the ship are in vertical condition so that the buoysare diregtly over the ship and do not float to one Each of the buoys comprises afloat 14, preferably made of cork, and having an'inserted 8 wood or hollow copperor brass member 15 provided with inscriptions such as 16 giving the name ofthe ship and other-identification matter-such as the port of registration and registration number. Furthermore, an inscription such as indicated by reference numeral 17 may be f appliedto indicate which buoy is to the fore'of the ship and which. is to the aft; 7

The inscription is also printed with clearv suitable type of lettering on top of the member 15.

i The float 14 issupported within a frame structure 18 attached upon aconical mem ber 1 9.. This conical member is connected I upon the top of piping 20 which extends through the several decks 21 of the ship to the bottom. At the bottorri, the pipe 20 extends into a housing 22 and terminates in a funnel portion 23 having an elongated opening 2A. A cable 13 is attached upon the bottom of the float at the point where a portion of the float extends into the conical member 19 and extends through the full length of the pipe. emerging through the opening 24:. Within the housing 22, there is a pair of standards 26 which rotatively support a drum 27 upon which the cable 25 is wound. Any length of cable may be used depending upon the depth of the water in which the ship navigates. One of the ends of the drum is formed with teeth 28 en aged by a pawl 29 pivotally mounted and urged by a spring 30 into engagement with the teeth. This pawl serves as a catch for holding the drum against rotating and consequently from giving off its cable.

A means is provided for releasing the catch allowing extension of the cable only when the float 1a is dragged under the surface of the water. This means comprises a plurality of inclined passages 31 in the top of the float extending from the top face to the sides and located on all sides of the float. These passages are positioned above the normal water line of the float. In each of the passages, spaced contacts 32 are mounted. These contacts are connected up in a circuit 33 so that the pairs of contacts are in series. The circuit includes supply leads 34-, an electromagnet 35, and the contacts 32. Thewires forming the circuit 33 are loose as indicated by the coils 35 so that they may extend from the contacts 32 through the pipe 20 to the electromagnet 35 which is located in the easing 22. The leads of the circuit should be of a length to correspond with the length of the cable 13 so that the float may be fully extended without causing breakage in the electrical connections.

As the ship sinks, the floats 14 will be dragged under the water level so that the water fills the passages 31 and short circuits the contacts 32. Immediately the circuit through the electromagnet 35 is closed causing it to lift the pawl 29 from the teeth 28. The drum can now rotate and give ofl cable until the ship reaches bottom and stops sinking. The float will then assume a position in which the passages 31 are above the water and the circuit through the electromagnet will be broken so that the spring 30 prevents further giving off of cable. In this manner, just enough cable will be given off to locate the floats directly over the ship. As the ship remains in its sunken position and the buoys are thrown around by the waves, one or more of the passages 31 may be temporarily filled with water which will short circuit the particular contacts 32 within the passages but which will not cause further giving off of cable since it is requisite that all of the passages 31 be simultaneously filled in that the contacts 32 are connected in series. The more action of the waves cannot fill all of the passages at one time and therefore cable will not be given out unless the float is absolutely submerged due to further sin-king of the ship, if this is possible. In such an event, more cable would be given off so that the floats assume positions at the surface of the water.

One of the crew of the sunken ship may remain upon the float or may be in a life boat or life raft attached to the float so as to claim possession of the sunken ship until he receives final instructions from proper authorities.

In Fig. 7 the conical member 19 is provided with a plurality of apertures 19 to prevent the accumulation of dust, mud or any gummy substance.

It is to be understood that the funnel 19 andthe entire device may be made of any suitable material and that the size and proportions may be changed to fit size of vessels.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a. device for locating sunken vessels a float for location on the top deck of a ship a cable attached upon said float, a drum mounted on said ship and carrying turns of said cable, a catch for holding the drum against free rotations, and electrical means for releasing the catch allowing extension of the cable when the buoy is dragged under the water.

2. A ship locater, comprising a pair of buoys for location on the top deck of a ship at the fore and aft portions, each of said buoys comprising afloat, means for supporting said float on the deck of the ship, a cable attached upon said float, a drum mounted on said ship and carrying turns of said cable, a catch for holding the drum against free rotations, and means for releasing the catch allowing extension of the cable when the buoy is dragged under the Water, comprising spaced contacts within passages in said float and located above the normal water line of floating of the float, and a circuit including said spaced contacts in series and an electromagnet connected with said catch for its operation.

3.. In a device for locating sunken vessels a float for location on the top deck of a ship, a cable attached upon said float, a drum mounted on said ship and carrying turns of said cable, a catch for holding the drum against free rotations, and electrical means for releasing the catch allowing extension of the cable when the buoy is dragged under the water, comprising an electro-magnet connected with said catch for its operation, and means for energizing said electro-magnet upon submersion of said float.

4:. In a device for locating sunken vessels a float for location on the top deck of a ship, a cable attached upon said float, a drum mounted on said ship and carrying turns of said cable, a catch for holding the drum against free rotations, and electrical means for releasing the catch allowing extension of the cable when the buoy is dragged under the water, comprising spaced contacts within passages in said float and locatedabove the normal water line of floating of the float, and means for operating said catch upon shortcircuiting'of the said contacts.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature.

LUDWIG H. ROETH. 

